Process of skinning fruit.



UNITED STATES JOVITA BOYD THOMPSON, OF DENTON, TEXAS.

PROCESS OF SKINNING FRUIT.

Application filed January-4', 1906. Serial No. 294.557.

certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Skinning Fruit, ofwhich the following isa specification.

Generally the invention herein described relates to the process ofpeeling or skinning fruit-as, for example, peaches, pears, plums,

' injurious to health.

I heavy penalties and apples. More particularly it relates to a processof hygienic-treatment of the fruit so that the skins may be removedquickly by chemical means without in any manner unhealthfuily injuringthe fruit and without leaving any trace of an unwholesome chemical.

Before setting forth the exact steps to be followed in carrying out theinvention I will by explicit language distinguish what is old. Asformerly practiced the skinning of fruit hasbeen carried on by the useof alum for neutralizing thealkalinity of potassic or sodic hydrate.Many authorities consider alum Minute quantities improve the appearanceof bread made from inferior flour; but,.according to theEncycloed'iwBr'itmmica', Vol. III, page 255, the use of alum is regardedas an adultcration, and have been imposed on its detection.

As in the treatmentof' fruit while skinning the same small quantitiesare apt to be left behind in the pores of the fruit, I have invented aprocess which is independent of the employment of alum. As the inventionis independent of any p crticular apparatus and consists entirely ofchemical operations, no drawings are annexed.

I will now describe the process in such full clear, and concise terms asto enable any per-i son skilled in the art to use the same.

The first step consists in subjecting the whole fruit, preferablywithout cutting or pitting it, to the action of a solution, in water, ofan alkali, which may conveniently be caustic soda or caustic potash. llfirst pitted or sliced, the solution washes out practically all oftheacidity and juices of the fruit. The flavor of the fruit is lost. also.be taken, therefore, not to pit or cut up the fruit until after thewhole chemical treatment. To hasten the action of the chemical upon theskin, the said solution is maintained Specification of Letters Patent.

Caution should PATENT OFFICE.

Patented Feb. 5, 1907.

at the lmiling-point. The time is around a minute, more or less,according to the strength of the solution; but the operator may knowwhen the time is sul'licient by the appearance of the fruit. It breaksand furrows np. I do not con'linc myself to any particular strength ofsolution; but I found by experiment that the usual stick of the potash,as found on the market, sullices for one gallon. In this respect,however, my invention corresponds to the old process, where the firststep consists in the action of caustic potash or simi lar a kali. Ifind, also, that instead of the alkali carbonate of soda is suitable forthis first step, or carbonate of potassium may be employed.Conveniently, a boiling solution of ordinary hard-wood ashes may be usedconomically.

The next step consists in removing the solution from the fruit or thefruit from the solution and treating the fruit with a stream of coldwater thrown torcil'ily upon the fruit and copiously, or the fruit maybe taken out of the alkali solution and immersed in cold running water.The object ol this lastnientioned step is to remove the skin 'and asmuch of the alkali as possible by means of the water.

T he third step consists in subjecting the fruit after removal from thewater-bath to the action of very diluted acetic acid. As this acid isfound to the extent of five per cent. in ordinary vinegar, it is evidentthat it is not deleterious to ones health. Precaution should aim atcompletelyneutralizing the alkali, which'inay be known by a piece oflitmus-paper, which should show red preferably, as it is much better tohave a little excess of the acid than of the alkali. After this step thefruit is washed or rinsed in cold water again. Any trace of the acidwill not be unheazlthful.

The addition of acetic-acid to the remain-- show that I include, broadlthe conception of an acid 111 place of alum tor neutralizing the effects'of the alkali.

l. inhei-oredescrihed process of skinning f.. consisting in subjectingthe fruit to the *ion of lye, Washing off the skins and much of the lyeas possible from the fruit, then subjecting the fruit to the action ofacetic acid to neutralize the remaining lye, and then rinsing the fruit.

I 2'. The hereinbefore-described process of skinning fruit, consistingin subjecting the fruit to the action of caustic soda until the JUVITABQYD- THOMPSQN. W'itnesses J. 0. CD11,

J. H; J AQUYESQ

